Fifth-wheel.



Patented December 6, 1904.

Trice.

PATENT GEORGE E. MORTON, OF PARIS, MAINE.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,533, dated December 6, 1904.

Application filed October 1, 1904. SerialNo. 226,766. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. MORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paris, in the county of York and State of Maine,have invented new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fifth wheels, and to fifth wheels as applied more particularly to childrens carts. It is designed to supply such carts with a fifthwheel which is exceedingly cheap, strong, and durable, and to this end it is formed of two similar circular disks stamped out of sheet metal in such form that portions of the metal are upset to form vertical braces impinging the head-block and axle or axle-block, as the case may be. To further strengthen the members of the fifth-Wheel, the parts of the periphery thereof which lie outside of theheadblock and axle and beyond the braces are stamped into semitubular form.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and making a part of this application, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a headblock and axle provided with my improved fifth-wheel. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the members of the fifthwheel.

Same letters of reference refer to like parts.

In said drawings, A represents the headblock, and B the axle, or when an axle-block is used it would correspond to the axle-block. In childrens carts as a general rule the axleblock is dispensed with. The parts A and B are connected together by a king-bolt C, head- 7 ed at the upper end and threaded at the lower end, the threaded end being adapted to enter a nut D, set in the axle to hold the parts together, while permitting the parts to rotate in a horizontal plane one relative to the other. Interposed between the head-block and axle are the two members of my improved fifthwheel. The two members are similar in shape and construction and, in fact, may be formed with the same die and are interchangeable. Each member consists of a circular disk E of sheet metal formed with dies and having within the periphery thereof four brackets or braces F, formed by upsetting the metal at right angles to the length of the head-block or axle and positioned so that when secured to the head-block or axle the edges of the portions upset will engage the sides of the headblock or axle, as the case may be, and serve as a brace to strengthen the members of the fifth-wheel. The upsetting of the bracket portions of the members of the fifth-wheel leaves holes G therein. A hole H is punched therein to give entrance to the king-bolt, and one or more holes I are punched therein to receive attaching-screws J. At the same time the portions of the rim of the disk beyond the upset portions are stamped into a semitubular form, as seen at K, Figs. 1 and 2, except the portions L, which are adjacent to the head-block or axle when in position.

The advantages of my improved fifth-wheel are that it is exceedingly simple in construction, is very strong, can be formed of sheet metal by means of dies, and each member formed at one operation.

Having thus described my invention and its use, I claim- 1. A fifth wheel member composed of a sheet-metal disk having braces integral there- With formed by striking up portions thereof intermediate the periphery and center thereof, the adjacent edges of said braces being spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the head-block or axle.

2. A fifth-wheel member composed of a sheet-metal disk having braces integral therewith formed by striking up portions thereof intermediate the periphery and center thereof, the adjacent edges of said braces being spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the head-block or axle, the exposed portion of the disk beyond the braces being semitubular.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatiomin the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this QOth day of September, A. D. 1904.

GEORGE R. MORTON.

In presence of H. W. DENNISGN, GEORGE B. Onooxnrr. 

